I’m so excited to share these new additions to Camp Eagle Island, whose story is detailed in a previous blog post. Volunteers were busy all summer working to repair and maintain the beautiful buildings and assets of the island. We’re hoping to have it running for summer 2018! The organization also got some great press, check out the webpage. My contributions on two separate weekends included: hand-painted vintage-looking signs for the bathrooms/unit house, a freshly painted picnic table, and two watercolor art pieces that will most likely be used for T-shirts and merchandise next year (one pictured below). Keep an eye out for those!
The camp has a very rich history, from its original occupants - Native American tribes - to the families of Levi Morton, and Henry Graves, who commissioned architect William Coulter to design the buildings that still stand..and finally Mr. Graves who donated it to the Girl Scouts in the 1930's. I wanted to pay tribute to that history in my art, and also the incredible feeling of one-ness with the land and water that comes from the camp experience. The art piece (below) has a canoe/longboat & paddle, plus hidden figure of a diver (with bathing cap on), inspired by an antique book about Juliette Gordon Low, the original founder of the Girl Scouts -- an incredibly influential figure & leader.
It’s a great cause that will support girls as they gain leadership skills, life-defining experiences and education in the outdoors. Who doesn’t love a great wilderness camp? ;) I do! You can make a donation & help the camp at: www.friendsofeagleisland.org
P.S. Artists' Note: when I first set out to create a work that would represent camp, I hit a stumbling block -- Camp is somehow part of everything I do, paint, draw... and also, I wasn't there. It's hard to experience true inspiration unless you're surrounded by it, I often feel. So, my recent trip up helped me to really define what elements would be most meaningful. And I got to spend some time with some amazing human beings!! Thanks Friends of Eagle Island. <3 <3
New sign for a very important building!
All the best adventures start at the Unit House...;)
New Art! The spirit of camp, in watercolor... Look for T-shirts in 2018